ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election regulatory authority said on Thursday it would hold the next general elections by October 11 if the National Assembly decided to complete its constitutional tenure until August 12.
President Dr. Arif Alvi already called the farewell sessions of the upper and lower houses of parliament earlier today as the South Asian nation prepares to go to polls in the coming months.
Pakistan’s ruling coalition also hinted at the possibility of dissolving the National Assembly and hand over the reins to a caretaker administration four days before the expiration of its term during political deliberations this month.
However, the government did not specify the exact date since it is the Election Commission of Pakistan’s prerogative to determine the exact time for the electoral contest after a legislation granting it complete autonomy earlier this year.
“If the assembly is dissolved on the completion of the term on August 12, the election will be held before October 11,” said the ECP’s special secretary Zafar Iqbal during a media briefing. “If the assembly is dissolved before then, elections will be held in three months.”
He expressed certainty the ECP would get enough security personnel to arrange the electoral exercise in a peaceful environment.
“The delimitation of constituencies is complete,” he continued. “The election will be held on the basis of the old constituencies.”
Iqbal said the ECP was coordinating with relevant institutions and had also approached the judiciary for returning and district returning officers.
